Facia guard bracket

ABSTRACT

A facia guard bracket that attaches to the facia board of a roof provides recesses for receiving guard boards in order to create a structure that will act as a fall protection device on the roof of a building.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to a guard bracket for attachment to a facia board to provide support for a guard system to prevent a person falling from a roof of a building during construction.

The prevention of injuries from people falling off a roof during construction on a building has been a long-time concern in the construction industry, as well as safety organizations. More and more regulations are being put into effect to address the safety of construction workers. Safety devices for individuals while on a roof include anchored harness systems, which can be uncomfortable and restrict a person's movement. The harness systems also require that the person remember to hook up to the harness each time he or she goes onto the roof.

Various other rooftop fall protection devices have been proposed. Many of these devices are complex and expensive. Moreover, contractors will often have a number of roofing jobs going on at the same time, which increases the number of fall protection devices that a contractor must purchase. Many contractors simply cannot afford to maintain an adequate inventory of fall protection devices when the cost of fall protection devices is high.

Installation of fall protection devices may also become an issue if the installation and use of the fall protection devices is complex or time-consuming to install.

Another factor that has adversely affected fall protection systems is the lack of uniformity in rooftop construction. More and more different pitches are being used in current construction projects, with some fall protection devices suitable for use on a single pitch roof.

Due to the lack of uniformity in rooftop construction, some contractors may be required to increase inventory of rooftop fall protection devices in order to accommodate different construction projects. Those rooftop fall protection devices that exist and may be used on multiple roof pitches likely utilize a complex design.

There exists a need, therefore, for a rooftop fall protection device that is relatively inexpensive and easy to install. Further, it is desirable that the fall protection device be applicable to various pitched roofs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The rooftop fall protection device of the present invention solves the need for a relatively inexpensive protection device that is easy to install. This goal is accomplished by providing a facia guard bracket that is installed anywhere along a facia board, which can receive a horizontal fall protection device. The facia guard bracket has an opening to receive an extension in order to support additional horizontal fall protection devices.

The facia guard bracket embodying of the present invention includes a U-shaped receptor for receiving the facia board on a roof. This U-shaped receptor also has a set bolt that can be advanced in order to secure the facia guard bracket to the facia board. The facia guard bracket contains a second U-shaped receptor, which is generally parallel to the U-shaped facia board receptor. The second U-shaped receptor is designed to receive a 2×4, 2×6, 2×8, or similar board. When two or more facia guard brackets, embodying the present invention, are installed on a facia board, a rooftop fall protection device is created by the horizontal extension of one or more boards between the facia guard brackets.

These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of the facia guard bracket embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the facia guard bracket;

FIG. 3 is a perspective of two facia guard brackets, embodying the present invention, holding guardrails in place along the edge of a roof; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the facia guard bracket embodying the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring initially to FIG. 1, there is shown a facia guard bracket 2 embodying the present invention. The facia guard bracket 2 has a generally U-shaped recess 8 defined by sidewalls 28 and 26. As shown in FIG. 3, the generally U-shaped recess 8 receives the facia board 4 of a roof 14. A set bolt 20, which is advanced through a threaded hole 18 of sidewall 28 of the U-shaped recess 8, secures the facia guard bracket 2 to the facia board 4 as the set bolt 20 is advanced towards the opposite wall 26 of the U-shaped recess 8.

The facia guard bracket 2 contains a second generally U-shaped recess 16 in order to receive a guard board 6 (FIG. 3) that will extend between multiple facia guard brackets 2. The main body 30 of the facia guard bracket 2 and the wall 22 serve to define the generally U-shaped recess 16 for receiving the guard board 6. The wall 22 of the generally U-shaped recess 16 may have one or more holes 24 (FIG. 2) to allow fastening members, such as nails or screws, to be fastened to the guard board.

The facia guard brackets 2 may be attached to the facia board 4 (FIG. 3) anywhere along the facia board 4, except where the roof trusses are attached to the facia board 4. The bottom of the first guard board 6, which is received by the second generally U-shaped recess 16 of each facia guard bracket 2, may be even with, slightly below, or several inches above the plane of the roof 14. If the bottom of the first guard board 6 is even with or slightly below the plane of the roof 14, then the guard board 6 can assist in the prevention of tools, nails, and other devices, which are dropped by someone on the roof 14, from falling off the roof 14.

The body 30 of the facia guard bracket 2 also contains an open end 10 for receiving an extension 36 (FIG. 3) to allow additional guard boards 12, 38 to be extended between facia guard brackets 2. For example, the first generally U-shaped recess 32 on the extension 36, which is inserted into the open end 10 of each facia guard bracket 2, receives a second guard board 12 that also lies above the plane of the roof 14. The extension 36 may have additional generally U-shaped members 34 for receiving additional guard boards 38, all of which will provide fall protection of the roof 14. Thus, a fall protection device may be constructed which provides heightened fall protection.

The U-shaped recesses 16, 32, 34 on the facia guard brackets 2 and the extensions 36 may be spaced apart in any manner to allow the facia guard brackets 2 and extensions 36 to receive multiple guard boards 6, 12, and 38. For example, should the bottom of the recesses 16, 32, and 34 be spaced 18 inches apart, then the top of the first guard board 6, if the guard board 6 is a 2×6, will be approximately 12 inches below the bottom of the second guard board 12.

The facia guard bracket 2 is made of any material with the strength to support at least one guard board 6. The facia guard bracket 2 can be made of metal, for example, that is molded, welded, or stamped into the appropriate shape.

In an alternative embodiment, shown in FIG. 4, one or more of the walls 28 and 26 of the generally U-shaped recess 8, that receives the facia board, may extend laterally beyond the body 30 of the facia guard bracket 2. This extension 42 may have one or more holes 40 to allow fastening members, such as nails or screws, to be fastened to the facia board to assist in securing the facia guard bracket 2 to the facia board. The other generally U-shaped recesses 16, 32, and 34 may have similar extensions.

The above description is considered that of the preferred embodiments only. Modifications of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art and to those who make or use the invention. Therefore, it is understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above are merely for illustrative purposes and not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law, including the doctrine of equivalents. 

1. A facia guard bracket comprising: a first generally U-shaped recess for receiving the facia board of a roof between trusses, a fastening member for securing the first generally U-shaped recess to the facia board, and a second generally U-shaped recess for receiving a guard board.
 2. The facia guard bracket of claim 1, wherein the fastening member is a bolt.
 3. The facia guard bracket of claim 1, wherein an extension is added to the facia guard bracket, said extension having one or more generally U-shaped recesses for receiving additional guard boards.
 4. A fall protection device comprising: a plurality of facia guard brackets secured along the facia board of a roof; said facia guard brackets having generally U-shaped recesses for receiving said facia board; and said facia guard brackets having second generally U-shaped recesses for receiving a guard board.
 5. The fall protection device of claim 4, wherein each facia guard bracket is secured to the facia board with a bolt.
 6. The fall protection device of claim 4, wherein an extension is added to the facia guard bracket, said extension having one or more generally U-shaped recesses for receiving additional guard boards.
 7. A method for providing a fall protection device comprising: attaching a plurality of facia guard brackets, each having a generally U-shaped recess for receiving the facia board of a roof between trusses and a second generally U-shaped recess for receiving a guard board; and placing said guard board in said second generally U-shaped recesses of the facia guard brackets.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the fall protection device is further assembled by insertion of extensions into the facia guard brackets, each extension having additional generally U-shaped recesses that receive additional guard boards. 